You have a weight loss goal and you’re working your little booty off to get there. But did you know there are some serious weight loss myths that might be holding you back? What’s more, they’re probably messing with your workout, too. And instead of helping you lose weight, they’re making it harder for you to do so. So, if you want to know the truth, here are three weight loss myths.

You can lose fat in specific areas of your body

Everybody has at least one area of the body they’re not happy with. For some, it’s not having the perfect thigh gap. For others, it’s the not-so-lovable love handles. And you might try to burn fat from that specific area.

But that’s not how weight loss works. According to fitness trainer and author, Adam Rosante, “Fat cells are distributed across your entire body. If you want to lose fat from a specific spot, you need to lose overall body fat.”

Cardio = weight loss

Cardio’s great, but don’t rely on cardio, and cardio only, for weight loss. According to Jillian Michaels, “The reality is that balance of both [aerobics and strength-training] makes for optimal fitness”, and that includes weight loss.

What’s more, Michaels recommends doing strength-training first, followed by cardio activity to burn the most fat.

You need to exercise every day

If the idea of exercising every single day burns you out, you’re in luck. When you exercise, you’re actually breaking muscle fibers and they need time to recover, especially large muscles groups like the booty and quads. So, don’t be afraid to take a rest day. This way, you can return to your fitness routine feeling strong and ready.

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